I'm doing bidirectional science popularization in American comics

Page 208

Not to mention, Joseph also has the trump card of transforming into the Joker personality.

For example, the original Mudface is now frozen solid and locked up again in his hospital room, which is like a giant refrigerator.

In the monitoring room of Arkham Asylum, an electrician sat in a chair, picking his teeth with a small wooden fork that he had broken off from somewhere.

Surrounding him, many well-known villains who had once caused a great stir in Gotham City sat in other chairs, their eyes fixed on the surveillance footage.

Hugo Strange stood up from his chair, walked to the monitor screen, squatted down, and said excitedly, "It seems someone has come in. It's a guy I've never seen before. I'm certain this guy isn't a patient from the asylum!"

Upon hearing Strange's words, the others immediately gathered around.

The Mad Hatter, with his short and thin frame, squeezed to the front. When he saw the figure in the picture, he immediately said in his hoarse voice, "This guy is definitely not one of Arkham's! Look at him, dressed in a suit and tie, he must have gotten lost and just happened to walk in!"

Mr. Freeze pushed aside the people gathered in front of the screen and walked to the front.

He looked at the person on the monitor and revealed a cruel smile: "Looks like we're in for some fun today. Hopefully, this fair-skinned little bald guy can hold on a little longer, at least... until tomorrow morning before he dies!"

Beside the electrocuted man, the third-generation mudface scratched his head, smeared mud on the face of the person behind him, and said, "Didn't Dean Joseph and Vice Dean Joker say that we're not allowed to hurt anyone else?"

Now, in Arkham Asylum, both Joseph and the Joker are figures that no one dares to provoke or defy.

Because they knew that when they angered Joseph, he would turn into a clown.

The Joker doesn't care about killing a few lunatics from Arkham Asylum to vent his anger.

The electrician glanced at the foolish guy and said, "And today you beat a guy with bipolar disorder into a pulp?"

Mudface, his eyes wide, explained, "That's because the guy with the manic disorder isn't just anyone. He's wearing the same uniform as us; he's one of us. So... we can kill him!"

Upon hearing this, the person being electrocuted immediately clutched his stomach and burst into laughter:

"Hahahaha, hahahaha! You idiot, why don't you dress the bald guy in the surveillance footage in the same uniform as us? Then he won't be anyone else either, right?"

Upon hearing this, Mudface immediately slapped his muddy forehead hard and said in annoyance, "So that's how it is. As expected, the leader of the electric torturers is smarter!"

On the first floor of the mental hospital, Lex asked curiously, "You said this place can represent the real Gotham, why is that?"

Depp said, "Because this place has held all of Gotham's supervillains, including many who even Batman found troublesome. Like Scarecrow, Penguin, Joker, and... Ivy and Victor, whom you've met before."

"Supervillains?" Lex asked with great interest. "What are those? Why do you call them supervillains?"

As he spoke, Lex suddenly remembered Ivy and Victor's research, and he exclaimed in realization, "I think I know why these guys are called supervillains now."

Depp lifted the broken door panel in front of him and said, "That's right. They all possess power that is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Some of them use the scientific technology they have mastered, while others are more straightforward and brutal, using their own mutations or even magic."

"I can understand technology, but as for mutation and magic... do such things really exist in this world?"

Lex ducked under the door panel that Depp had lifted and voiced his question.

Depp tossed the door panel behind him and said, "Of course they exist. These things that can't be explained by common sense have always existed on this planet. It's just that outside of Gotham, they never show themselves to the public, or they've been detained and their information blocked by the authorities beforehand."

Lex said, "I'm sorry, but based on my past knowledge, I still can't believe these unrealistic things until I see them with my own eyes."

“As for Gotham, the city’s unparalleled inclusiveness gives these supernatural people and things the opportunity to show themselves to the public.” Hearing Lex’s words, Depp shrugged helplessly: “Believe me, you’ll see soon, very soon.”

As they spoke, the two had already reached the staircase connecting the first and second floors.

Depp very gentlemanly extended his hand, gesturing for Lex to enter.

Lex nodded with gratitude and then went up the stairs first.

As Lex walked up the stairs, several pairs of eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness of the first floor.

They stared intently at Lex, who was walking step by step up to the second floor, seemingly oblivious to Depp's presence.

Whether by coincidence or not, the staircase that Lex and Depp chose was quite narrow and cramped.

Furthermore, due to the two turns, the lights from the first and second floors couldn't reach them when they reached the middle of the stairs.

"It's so dark!"

As Lex spoke, he took out his phone and turned on the flashlight.

beep!

The phone's flash went into constant mode, immediately illuminating the stairs ahead.

But the lights did not bring Lex courage and hope; instead, they allowed this pampered young master to witness a scene he would never forget.

Several streams of brown sludge slowly emerged from the gaps in the stair tiles and gradually gathered together.

Ultimately, the sludge coalesced into a human shape in front of Lex.

It is the same as the previous three generations of mud-faced figures.

Furthermore, the mud-faced man was carrying a hospital gown covered in foul-smelling mud.

Lex instinctively took a step back, looked at Depp behind him, and asked, "Is this Arkham's patient? I think I believe what you just said now."

Upon hearing this, Depp gave a "you know what I mean" look.

Meanwhile, the mud-faced man opposite him shouted excitedly, "Talking to yourself in the air, you really are just like us!"

Lex looked at Mudface and said angrily, "What do you mean, talking to thin air? I'm completely different from you lunatics!"

"Come on! Put this on quickly. Once you're in this, we're family!" With that, Mudface grabbed the hospital gown and lunged at Lex. "Once we're family, we can slowly torture you to death, hehe!"

Chapter 208 Lex's Money Power

Upon hearing Mudface's words, Lex immediately flew into a rage.

Essentially, Lex is an extremely arrogant person.

Although he was initially frightened by the eerie atmosphere of Arkham Asylum, Lex wasn't about to stand there trembling and wait to die when someone was in front of him saying they were going to torture him to death.

He dodged Mudface's attack by sidestepping, then quickly ran up to the second floor.

Lex turned to Depp, who was still standing there, and said, "Isn't... anyone going to do anything about them?"

Depp casually walked past Mudface and said, "It usually happens, but today... I guess the staff are all on vacation."

Mudface, having missed his target, immediately turned around, still ignoring Depp, and charged towards Lex.

Seeing this, Lex immediately shouted in confusion, "Why isn't this guy pouncing on you who's standing right next to him? Why is he chasing after me all the time?"

Depp shrugged, not telling Lex that he had used illusion magic he learned from Asgard to conceal his presence.

Lex immediately turned around after speaking, and Depp, seeing this, immediately sped up to catch up.

"Maybe he finds you more interesting. Do you need help?"

Lex did not respond to this.

He vaguely guessed that Depp must have used some special method to make the mud monster unable to see him.

Based on his analysis of the situation after entering Arkham, Lex felt that this should be a test for Depp.

He had also realized that Depp was definitely more than just a successful businessman.

In certain non-scientific, even non-human, supernatural fields, this guy is definitely a big shot!

Therefore, Lex decided that unless the situation became critical at the last minute, he would never ask Depp for help and would rely on his own abilities to navigate Arkham Asylum!

Hmph, just you wait, Depp!

I, Lex Luthor, am not someone to be trifled with!

After saying that, Lex took out a handful of dollars from his pocket and threw them directly above his head.

Dozens of hundred-yuan bills scattered on the ground like flowers falling from the sky.

Upon seeing this, Mudface slammed on the brakes.

He glanced at Lex not far away, then at the hundred-dollar bill on the ground.

Money makes the world go round; the relative importance of money is obvious!

Mudface stuffed the hospital gown into his body.

He then squatted down, preparing to pick up a hundred-yuan bill from the ground.

But just as Mudface's hand was about to touch the banknotes, something he couldn't understand happened.

With a "whoosh" sound,

That hundred-yuan bill disappeared right under his nose!

"Damn it, who stole my money? That hundred dollars was just in my hand!"

Mudface looked around angrily, but apart from Lex, who was a dozen meters in front of him, panting heavily with his hands on his knees, there was no one else there!

"Forget it, let's pick up the rest of the money first."

Thinking this, Mudface reached for the second hundred-yuan bill.

But just like before, just as he was about to pick up the banknotes...

With another whoosh, the banknotes vanished before his eyes once more.

"What?!?!"

Seeing this, Mudface was furious.

He cautiously surveyed his surroundings, then thought to himself, "I refuse to believe I won't get a single one today!"

Mudface reached for the third banknote.

Swish!

The money has disappeared!

The fourth one...

Swish!